Friday, September 15, 2000
State expands day-care aid
Extra $55.7 million goes toward training, subsidies
The Associated Press
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Education officials said Wednesday several changes have taken place as part of an early childhood initiative that will improve the state's child-care system.
The $55.7 million KIDS NOW initiative was passed by the 2000 General Assembly at Gov. Paul Patton's urging.
It has incentives for child-care centers to upgrade staff training and improve adult-child ratios, a rating system for child-care facilities, scholarships for child-care providers and increased child-care subsidies to low-income families.
“We know that the experiences children have in their early years lay the foundation for later learning and the development of life skills,” Mr. Patton said. “It is our responsibility to make sure that these children are in safe, healthy environments with quality learning programs to give them the best start in life.”
The initiative has increased the number of surveyors who license child-care centers from nine to 44. The expanded staff is being trained to provide quicker responses to complaints, conduct more thorough surveys and assist child-care providers who want to raise the quality rating of their centers, officials said.
The surveyors will operate out of offices in Hopkinsville, Louisville, Lexington and London.
The initiative also includes an Early Childhood Technical Assistance program that will offer mentoring to providers who want to improve their programs. Eighteen positions have been created across the state for staff members who will visit centers and family child-care homes to work with providers, officials said.
The initiative also has created 10 professional development counselors who will work with centers' staffs to develop plans to increase their professional education and skills. Scholarships will be available for those staff members Jan. 1.
Kim Townley, director of the state's early childhood office, said Kentucky also is preparing to expand financial assistance for families for child care beginning Oct. 1.
A family of four that makes up to $28,133 can qualify, she said.
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